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Pope kicks off Christmas under shadow of war

Christmas revellers around the world donned red and white Santa hats, offered meals to the homeless and lit candles on Wednesday, as Pope Francis launched observation of the global holiday with a sombre mass in the Vatican.

As India's Bollywood shifts, stars and snappers click

From riding pillion on zooming motorbikes to round-the-clock airport stakeouts, India's celebrity-hunting paparazzi photographers have gone from "outcasts" to becoming a key part of Bollywood's vast film industry machine.

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US agency focused on foreign disinformation shuts down

A leading US government agency that tracks foreign disinformation has terminated its operations, the State Department said Tuesday, after Congress failed to extend its funding following years of Republican criticism.

How Finnish youth learn to spot disinformation

Finland is consistently ranked as Europe's most media literate country and the skills needed to spot online hoaxes are on the school curriculum, amidst a boom of mis- and disinformation campaigns.

Support grows for Blake Lively over smear campaign claim

A chorus of support is growing behind actress Blake Lively after she filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign against "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni.

Wallace and Gromit return with comic warning about AI dystopia

Beloved British animated couple Wallace and Gromit are returning to screens in their first feature-length film in 20 years for a typically mad-cap adventure that spotlights the dangers of technology in the wrong hands.

'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears

Social media users in Vietnam on platforms including Facebook and TikTok will need to verify their identities as part of strict new internet regulations that critics say further undermine freedom of expression in the communist country.

'Sonic 3' zips to top of N.America box office

Paramount's new action comedy "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" sped to the top of the North American box office this weekend, outdoing predictions with an estimated take of $62 million, one of the best December openings in years, industry watchers said Sunday.

India's architecture fans guard Mumbai's Art Deco past

A towering cinema with a roofline like an ocean liner stands out in India's financial capital Mumbai, part of a remarkable Art Deco architectural heritage that campaigners say needs protection.

Albania announces shutdown of TikTok for at least a year

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said Saturday the government would shut down social network TikTok for at least a year from 2025.

Scholz mourns 5 killed, hundreds wounded in Christmas market attack

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday visited the site of a car-ramming attack on a crowded Christmas market that killed five people and injured more than 200 as he called for unity while condemning the "terrible catastrophe".

Germany in shock after new deadly Christmas market attack

Germany reeled Saturday from the shock of a new deadly attack on a crowded Christmas market where Chancellor Olaf Scholz was to visit the scene of the carnage.

Arahmaiani: the Indonesian artist with a thousand lives

Indonesian artist Arahmaiani has had many lives -- from an imprisoned then exiled anti-dictatorship activist to a hippie, art teacher and environmentalist -- which have inspired her works that test the limits of freedom.

Indonesians embrace return of plundered treasure from the Dutch

In the mid-19th century, Dutch colonial officials climbing an Indonesian volcano spotted an ancient statue meant to serve as protection against misfortune, looted it, and took it to the Netherlands.

Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee, wife resolve business dispute

Reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee on Friday announced he had reached a legal deal with his soon-to-be ex-wife to retake control of his companies, after accusing her of embezzling tens of millions of dollars from him.

Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee in court, says wife embezzled $100 mn

Reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee turned heads Friday when he faced off in a Puerto Rico court against his estranged wife, whom he accuses of embezzling tens of millions of dollars from his companies.

Medici secret passageway in Florence reopens after refit

A secret passageway built 500 years ago to allow the Medici family to pass through the Italian city of Florence unhindered reopens to the public Saturday after an 10-million-euro restoration.

Anger after Musk backs German far right

A post from Elon Musk on his platform X claiming that only the far-right AfD party can "save Germany" sparked accusations Friday that he was seeking to interfere in the country's upcoming election.

Ringo and McCartney reunite for trip down memory lane

Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was a surprise guest at the final gig of former band-mate Paul McCartney's London tour, with the pair reuniting to play some of the Fab Four's greatest hits.

'Angry gamblers' behind half of abusive tennis social media posts - report

Tennis chiefs revealed Thursday that "angry gamblers" accounted for almost half of abusive social media posts targeting top tennis stars.

With spate of lawsuits, Trump goes after US media

In his first post-election news conference, President-elect Donald Trump vowed to "straighten out" the "corrupt" US press.

On China's doorstep, Macau weaves an identity as integration looms

Seated in the audience at Macau's Dom Pedro V Theatre in the 1970s, 16-year-old Miguel de Senna Fernandes understood not a word of the "strange language" spoken on stage -- but right away he was mesmerised.

TikTok's rise from fun app to US security concern

As the US Supreme Court considers whether to uphold a law that could get TikTok banned in the United States, here is a look at the rise of the video-snippet social app.

Putin-tattooed dancer Polunin says leaving Russia

Former Royal Ballet star Sergei Polunin, famous for his tattoos of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday announced that he plans to leave Russia.

Pokemon is back with a hit new gaming app

With over 60 million downloads and an estimated $180 million in revenue since late October, a new Pokemon mobile game app is enjoying worldwide success as the latest incarnation of the hit Nintendo-owned franchise.

No quitting: Bollywood's Aamir Khan wants to keep acting

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Bollywood superstar and filmmaker Aamir Khan considered quitting cinema for good after dominating the Indian film industry for more than four decades.

For real life? 'Bluey' coming to the big screen

Preschoolers and parents hooked on heartwarming animated series "Bluey" might want to take a "tactical wee" to avoid any excited accidents: there's going to be a film.

Murakami tells alma mater he was a 'terrible student'

Publicity-shy Japanese author Haruki Murakami told his alma mater Tuesday that he was far from being a model scholar, as he collected an honorary degree in a rare public appearance.

TikTok asks Supreme Court to temporarily block looming US ban

TikTok asked the US Supreme Court on Monday to temporarily block a law that would force its Chinese owner to sell the popular online video-sharing platform or shut down a month from now.

Brazil judge orders Adele song be pulled globally

A Brazilian judge has ordered a song by British pop superstar Adele, "Million Years Ago," be pulled worldwide -- including on streaming services -- over an ongoing plagiarism claim by a Brazilian composer.

Indian tabla drum maestro Zakir Hussain dies aged 73

Indian musician Zakir Hussain, a four-time Grammy award winner credited with turning tabla drums into an instrument loved globally, has died at the age of 73, officials said Monday.

'Moana 2' surfs to 3rd weekend lead in N.America theaters

"Moana 2," the Disney sequel about the seafaring adventures of a courageous young Polynesian girl, topped the North American box office again in its third weekend out, taking in $26.6 million, according to industry estimates.

Voice of 'The Lion King' returns for Disney prequel

Born into poverty in apartheid-era South Africa and propelled to Hollywood heights, Lebohang Morake became the voice of Disney's classic film "The Lion King" with his powerful Zulu cry.

Herzog says 'stereotypical' AI inferior to human directors

Legendary German director Werner Herzog, known for his epic shoots and daring bets, fears nothing on the film set —- especially not artificial intelligence, which he tells AFP is "too stupid" to make good movies.

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